ACTIVIST
BARRED FROM DISTRIBUTING "HATEFUL" MATERIALS
Social activist Bill Whatcott says he will
appeal a ruling by the
Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal that found him guilty of
distributing flyers found to expose homosexuals to hatred and ridicule,
the Saskatoon
Star-Phoenix reported Saturday.
The tribunal decided that the accused had
demonstrated "a clear pattern or practise of disregard for protected
rights."
Whatcott was ordered to compensate the four
complainants in the case a total of $17,500. He was also forbidden from
distributing the flyers "or any similar material which promotes hatred
against individuals because of their sexual orientation."
The flyers, which Whatcott had placed in
mailboxes between September 2001 and April 2002, reportedly referred to
homosexuals as "sodomites."
"I believe homosexuality activity is a sin,"
Whatcott, who professes to be a Christian, told the Star-Phoenix. "I really believe
that. And to give me a $17,500 fine and say I can't say that is quite
frankly garbage and is not something I am going to abide by."
Whatcott says he will appeal the decision on
grounds that it tramples on his Charter-protected
rights to freedom of _expression and freedom of religion.
Whatcott is among a growing list of
Christians who have been found guilty by human rights bodies and the
courts of actions and statements deemed to be discriminatory of
homosexuals.
They include Quesnel, B.C., teacher-counsellor
Chris Kempling,
Toronto printer Scott Brockie, a
Catholic high school in Durham, Ontario, that refused to allow student Marc Hall
bring his male date to a prom, and the owners of a family-run bed-and-breakfast
in Prince Edward Island who decided to go out of business rather than
be forced to allow same-sex couples to stay in their home.
